Gaillardia plant named &#39;baltorflam&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Gaillardia  plant named ‘Baltorflam’, characterized by its red/yellow-bicolor ray and disc florets, and vigorous, upright, and mounded growth habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofGaillardia plant botanically known as Gaillardia pulchella andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Baltorflam’.

The new cultivar originated as the product of the open-pollination, inNovember 1999, of the proprietary breeding selection designated‘NCT-137-1’ (not patented) with a mix of pollen from plants grown fromThompson & Morgan double Gaillardia mix (not patented). The newGaillardia was discovered and selected as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during October2000 at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings takensince November 1999 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type, with all thecharacteristics as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It was repeatedly found that the cultivar of the present invention:

1. Forms red/yellow-bicolor ray and disc florets, and

2. Exhibits a vigorous, upright, and mounded plant habit.

‘Baltorflam’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment such as temperature,light intensity, and day length without, however, any variation ingenotype.

Of the Gaillardia cultivars known to the inventor the most similar to‘Baltorflam’ is ‘Sundance’ (not patented). However, in side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Sundance’primarily in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. The plants weregrown for 12 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Illinois.

FIG. 1 illustrates the overall growth and flowering habit of‘Baltorflam’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a single, partially opened inflorescence of‘Baltorflam’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a fully opened inflorescence of ‘Baltorflam’.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of a single flower and leaf of‘Baltorflam’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England1995 edition, except where general terms of ordinary significance areused. The color values were determined on May 21, 2003 in West Chicago,Ill. The readings were taken between 10:00 and 11:45 a.m. under naturaldaylight conditions. The plants were produced from cuttings taken fromstock plants and were grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in 10 cm pots while utilizing a soilless growthmedium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65°-75°F. (18°-24° C.) during the day and approximately 60° 65° F. (15°-18° C.)during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 5,000-8,000 footcandleswere maintained during the day. Plants were pinched at three weeks afterplanting. The following measurements and descriptions were taken at 12weeks after planting of rooted cuttings.

-   Botanical classification: Gaillardia pulchella cuftivar    ‘Baltorflam’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Gaillardia pulchella selection            designated ‘NCT-137-1’ (not patented).        -   Male parent.—Mix of pollen from plants grown from Thompson &            Morgan double Gaillardia mix (not patented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 5 to 8 days.        -   Time to develop roots.—Approximately 21 to 28 days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and well branched.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance and form.—Upright, mounded, and vigorous.        -   Crop time.—Approximately 6-7 weeks from planting of rooted            cuttings.        -   Height from soil level to top of blooms.—Approximately 35.2            cm.        -   Diameter (area of spread).—Approximately 36.7 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching.        -   Branch description.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 3.            Length:        -   Approximately 25.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4 mm. Color:            146B. Texture: Smooth. Internode length: Approximately 2 cm.        -   Foliage.—Type: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite. Quantity per            branch: Approximately 13. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Texture            of upper and lower surface: Densely pubescent. Color of            mature foliage: Upper surface: 137A with venation of 145C.            Lower surface: Closest to 191A with venation of 145C. Upper            leaves: Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Base: Sessile.            Length: Approximately 4.2 cm. Width: Approximately 8 mm.            Lower leaves: Shape: Spatulate. Margin: Pinnately lobed.            Base: Sessile. Length: Approximately 4.6 cm. Width:            Approximately 1.7 cm.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Outdoor flowering habit.—‘Baltorflam’ is freely flowering            under outdoor growing conditions with substantially            continuous blooming from spdng through fall.-   Inflorescence description: T    -   -   ype/appearance.—Solitary, composite, persistent. Disc and            ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Shape:            Hemispherical.        -   Fragrance.—Faint, sweet.        -   Quantity per plant.—3 open and 22 buds at any one time.        -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 5.3 cm. Depth/h ight:            Approximately 3.7 cm.        -   Receptical.—Shape: Hemispherical. Diameter: Approximately            2.4 cm. Depth/height: 5 mm.        -   Bud.—Shape: Oblate. Before first color: Diameter:            Approximately 7.4 mm. Depth/height: Approximately 1.5 cm.            Color: 151B. At first color Diameter: Approximately 9.4 mm.            Color: 13C. Depth/height: Approximately 2.3 cm. Color: 13C.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity: Approximately 107 per inflorescence.            Shape: Funnelform with 4 free lobes. Corolla diameter:            1.3 cm. Lobe length from tube: Approximately 6 mm. Lobe            width: Approximately 3 mm. Lobe apex: Pointed to slightly            rounded. Lobe margin: Entire. Lobe texture: Glabrous. Color            of mature lobe: Upper surface: 13A with venation of N144A.            Lower surface: 13C with venation of N144A. Corolla tube:            Length: 1.2 cm. Diameter at apex: 4 mm. Diameter at base:            0.7 mm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Fully opened,            outer surface: 13B at tube opening, 184A in center portion            of tube length, 145C at base.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity: Approximately 100. Shape:            Funnelform. Lobe shape: Linear. Lobe apex: Long, acuminate.            Length: 7 mm. Diameter: 3 mm. Texture of corolla tube: Outer            surface: Densely pubescent. Inner surface: Glabrous. Color            of apex: 183B. Color of base: Colorless, transparent.        -   Peduncle.—Strong, erect. Length: Approximately 16.7 cm.            Diameter Approximately 1.3 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent.            Color: 144A.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity: Approximately 30. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.            Length: 9 mm. Width at base: 2 mm. Texture: Densely            pubescent. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 138A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form. calyx. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Long, acuminate. Texture: Glabrous. Color            144D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium — On disc florets only.            Stamen number 4.-   Anther shape: Linear. Anther length: Approximately 3 mm. Anther    width: Approximately 0.08 mm. Anther color: 187A. Filament length:    Approximately 5 mm. Filament color: 76D. Amount of pollen: Abundant.    Pollen color: 8A. Gynoecium — On disc and ray florets. Pistil    length: Approximately 7 mm. Stigma shape: Narrow lanceolate, densely    pubescent. Stigma length: Approximately 3 mm. Stigma color: 187A.    Style length: 3.5 mm. Style color: 187D. Ovary length: 0.5 mm. Ovary    color: 144D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens or pests common    to Gaillardia has not been observed.-   Hardiness zone: ‘Baltorflam’ is presumably hardy in zones nine (9)    and above.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gaillardia plant named ‘Baltorflam’substantially, as herein shown and described, which:
 1. Formsred/yellow-bicolor ray and disc florets, and
 2. Exhibits a vigorous,upright and mounded growth habit.